Method and apparatus for radical prostatectomy anastomosis including an anchor for engaging a body vessel and deployable sutures

Abstract

Apparatus for performing a surgical anastomosis include a sleeve, a tubular body ( 220 ) configured and adapted to be slidably received within the sleeve, a firing head operatively coupled to a distal end of the tubular body and defining a plurality of needle passages ( 228 ), a radially expandable anchor ( 230 ) configured and adapted to be received within the distal end of the sleeve, a needle pusher assembly ( 270 ) including at least one push rod ( 272 ) slidably received within a respective needle passage; a lock collar ( 250 ) configured and adapted to be received in the central passage of the anchor and at least one needle anchor ( 280 ) slidably received in a respective needle passage.

1. A device for joining a first body vessel to a second body vessel, comprising:
 a) a cartridge having a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis wherein the cartridge comprises an inner member and an outer member having a lumen dimensioned to receive the inner member, the sutures being disposed in channels formed in the inner member; 
 b) a radially expandable anchor disposed at the distal end of the cartridge for engaging the first body vessel, the expandable anchor having an initial condition and an expanded condition wherein the expandable anchor is radially larger than the expandable anchor in the initial condition; 
 c) a plurality of sutures disposed within the cartridge and being deployable therefrom so as to engage the second body vessel, the sutures being threaded through the expandable anchor; and 
 d) a plurality of needle anchors, wherein each needle anchor of the plurality of needle anchors is attached to a distal end of a corresponding one of the plurality of sutures; wherein the expandable anchor is disposed between the inner member and the outer member. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable anchor comprises a plurality of flexible arms biased in an expanded position. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor has a central passage and the sutures extend through the expandable anchor and proximally through the central passage. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchors are deployable from the cartridge. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable anchor comprises a plurality of holes, each of the holes receiving one of the sutures. 
     
     
       6. A device for joining a first body vessel to a second body vessel, comprising:
 a) a cartridge having a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis wherein the cartridge comprises an inner member and an outer member having a lumen dimensioned to receive the inner member, the sutures being disposed in channels formed in the inner member; 
 b) an anchor disposed at the distal end of the cartridge for engaging the first body vessel; 
 c) a plurality of sutures disposed within the cartridge and being deployable therefrom so as to engage the second body vessel, the sutures being threaded through the anchor; and 
 d) a plurality of needle anchors, wherein each needle anchor of the plurality of needle anchors is attached to a distal end of a corresponding one of the plurality of sutures; a ring disposed within the outer member for securing the sutures to the expandable anchor. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the anchor comprises a plurality of outwardly extending arms. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the anchor has a central passage and the sutures extend through the anchor and proximally through the central passage. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the anchors are deployable from the cartridge. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the anchor comprises a plurality of holes, each of the holes receiving one of the sutures.